|
In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
AIRD, Peter - passed away at the age of 96 years in Brampton Ontario after living a happy and full life. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Alice (Ross) and his sister, Pam Arpin and survived by his three children, Janet, Robert (Judy) and Brian (Jocelyne) and his seven grandchildren, Kim, Michael, Diana, Peter, Tommy, Jay and Colleen plus eight energetic great-grandchildren. Peter was born in Montreal on August 28, 1925, the son John Strachan and Merle (Henderson) Aird in the midst of the roaring 20s, midway between 2 World Wars and a few years prior to the Great Depression. As a youth, Peter attended Selwyn House School in Montreal before moving to Bishops College School in Lennoxville Quebec. He was an excellent athlete, playing hockey, baseball and football. His proudest memory might have been the season he captained his BCS hockey team through an undefeated season. He was a true team player and always gave the credit for that success to his teammates. His education was interrupted by his enlistment in the Royal Canadian Navy which saw him serve on HMCS NANOOSE, a minesweeper based in Halifax NS during the final years of WW2. Peter left the Navy after the war and graduated from McGill University with a degree in Accounting. It was at McGill that he met Alice Ross, the love of his life, to whom he was married for 68 years. Peter and Alice settled in the Town of Mount Royal and, with the exception of a year and a half living in Rowayton, Connecticut, spent their working lives there. They had a wonderful circle of friends and were very happy with their social lives. Peter had a successful career in business, starting with Riddell Stead in Montreal where he obtained his Chartered Accountant designation. He moved to Canadair Ltd (now Bombardier), from which he retired in 1983 as Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer. He loved his work at Canadair, travelling extensively and working with and becoming great friends with a number of his colleagues. Throughout his career he was able to count on the solid support of Alice and theirs was an equal partnership based on love and respect. Following his retirement, they moved to a 10-acre property near Alliston, Ontario, fondly known as Ridgecroft, and some years later moved to nearby Orangeville. They had family and friends in the area, and they quickly made new friends and developed an active and productive social life. Peter was one of the founders of the Dufferin Arts Council, a not-for-profit community organization which supports and promotes the arts. One of Peter's strengths was his sense of loyalty. He had many good friends, some of whom he knew from childhood. He was generally a reserved man but from time to time would display an unexpected playfulness which always delighted his children. Playing pick-up hockey on one of the outdoor rinks, tobogganing on Mount Royal or capsizing in the puddle boat at Cacouna are some of the many happy memories we have. His hobbies included bookbinding and building 'boats in bottles'. Those were marvels of skill and ingenuity, and he had a selection of homemade tools specific to the task. Peter generously supported many charities and continued to make financial donations to his schools throughout his life. While his three children were scattered across Canada and the U.S. raising their own families, his greatest legacy may be the fact that he and Alice hosted their children and grandchildren for years in TMR, Ridgecroft and Orangeville, allowing a new generation to grow up in friendship and affection and with strong family ties. Peter will be greatly missed by all those who were touched by his thoughtfulness and generosity. There will be a celebration in Montreal of Peter's and Alice's life together, location and date to be announced in the spring. (the Globe and Mail 11 Dec 2021)
Ships served in:
|
